According to a report, as called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2, shortened as SARS-CO-2 is the name supposedly given to the current viral epidemic, reportedly emerging in 2019 in China and said to be a new strain of corona virus. One previously known strain of the corona virus as documented is SARS-CO-1 or original SARS which also reportedly emerged in China, in 2002. SARS is a viral illness that infects the respiratory tract and can cause pneumonia. The 2002 epidemic was documented to have spread to 24 countries in north and south America, Europe and Asia before being contained, reportedly after 8 months. According to statistics there were 8000 cases, 800 deaths being reported. Figures unconfirmed.
The other previously publicised corona virus epidemic is as called MERS-CoV/Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Said to have emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012, MERS was documented to have spread throughout the middle east and beyond. Later cases were reportedly genetically distinct. According to one source 2000 cases and 600 deaths were reported. Animals are blamed. The current corona virus epidemic is genetically related to the COV-1 virus and MERS. There is according to one report, 93000 confirmed cases of COV 2, with 2717 reported deaths. Could be much more.
COVID-19 is said to be the disease associated with COV 2 but may be just a new name. A previous pattern of corona virus is reported to have resulted in a genetic mutation. Initial symptoms of coronavirus are reportedly fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore thoat, muscle pain and tiredness.